Trump Called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Belgium Has Been Fuming Ever Since
American striker Folarin Balogun scored against Bosnia and spent the second half in the tunnel.
Three days later, Donald Trump picked up the phone.
What Trump got out of that call had never happened at a World Cup in 64 years.
The Automatic Suspension No Player Had Ever Beaten
Balogun – America's leading scorer with three goals in three matches – went down in the 64th minute against Bosnia after a collision with defender Tarik Muharemovic and was shown a red card on video review.
The call was borderline.
Balogun said he and Muharemovic were simply fighting for position and that the contact was unavoidable.
Under FIFA's World Cup rules, an automatic one-game suspension follows every red card without exception.
Multiple FIFA officials confirmed after the match that teams had no mechanism to appeal.
Then Trump called Gianni Infantino.
The president placed a call to the FIFA president asking the organization to review Balogun's ban – confirmed by Fox News.
First Red Card Reversal Since Brazil in 1962
FIFA announced Sunday it was suspending Balogun's suspension – placing him on a one-year probationary period under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code.
In plain English: he plays against Belgium.
This is only the second time in World Cup history that FIFA has reversed a red card suspension.
The first was Brazil's Garrincha in 1962 – a ruling that required presidential petitions, alleged bribes, and a key witness who vanished from the country before he could testify.
This one took a single call from Donald Trump.
Belgium erupted.
The Royal Belgian Football Association called the ruling "in direct contradiction" with FIFA's own World Cup regulations and announced it was "investigating all potential options."
Belgium's objection wasn't just wounded pride.
FIFA's own World Cup rules are unambiguous: Article 10.5 mandates automatic suspension after any red card, and Article 66.4 of the disciplinary code locks in the same requirement.
FIFA used Article 27 – a general power allowing its committee to suspend any sanction – to override both.
Belgium called it a contradiction in terms.
FIFA did it anyway.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia had a simpler take.
"I didn't know that in the offices of FIFA the 5th of July was the 1st of April in Europe," Garcia said.
Trump celebrated on Truth Social.
"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice," the president posted.
He is right.
Balogun's red card was a contact play during a 50-50 challenge – not the kind of malicious foul the rule was designed to punish.
No player has beaten the automatic suspension since FIFA made it permanent.
None of them had a president willing to make the call.
How a Trump Tower Office and a Peace Prize Set Up the Reversal
Trump and Infantino have built one of the most visible partnerships in global sports – and Europe has been complaining about it for months.
FIFA opened offices in Trump Tower.
Infantino awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw in Washington in December 2025.
Trump is scheduled to help present the World Cup trophy on July 19.
The European Parliament got involved too – fifty members fired a letter at FIFA demanding Infantino answer for the Peace Prize.
They got nowhere.
That relationship – built over years, cemented through deals, World Cup logistics, and a close personal friendship – is exactly what made Sunday's ruling possible.
Belgium's meltdown follows a pattern America's conservatives know well.
When Trump fights for America and wins, the people who lost call the game rigged.
They said his trade deals were unfair.
They said his border enforcement was unfair.
Now they're calling a phone call to a friend unfair.
None of it changes the outcome.
Balogun suits up against Belgium in Seattle on Monday.
The man who was supposed to be sitting in a locker room is instead going to be the most dangerous player on the field.
That's what happens when America has a president who picks up the phone.
Sources:
- Paul Bois, "Reports: Trump Asked FIFA to Review USMNT Star Player Folarin Balogun's Red Card Suspension," Breitbart, July 5, 2026.
- "Before Balogun: Meet The Only Other Player To Have A World Cup Red Card Rescinded," Fox Sports, July 5, 2026.
- "Trump Called FIFA President to Review Folarin Balogun Red Card for USA-Belgium Match," Fox News Digital, July 5, 2026.
